Lighting and ignition switch



March 27, 1928. v 1,664,110

E. N. JAcoBl LIGHTING AND IGNITION swITcH Filed Nov. 12, 1924 3 Shafts-sheet 1 Ae. w

March 27, 1928.

LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Filed Nov. 12, 1924 s sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

March 27, 1928. y

E. N. JACOBI LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH 3 Sheets-.Sheet 3 Filed Nov. l2. 1924 Patented Mar.V 27, 1928.

EDWARD N. JAcoBI, on MILWAUKEE, Wisf'ioNsnv,y Assienon, BY Mnsnn Assrcfn.A

i A 1,664,110 PATENT 'FFICEAL MENTS, T0 BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LIGHTING AND IGNITION 'SWITCIL Application filed November 12, 1924. Serial No. 749,442.

This invention relates to` lighting andl ignition switches for -use on automobiles and the like and has for its object to simplify the construction to increase its efficiency and durability and at the same time reduce the costy of manufacture.

Another purpose of the invention is to utilize sheet metal and insulating fiber stampings` as far as possible in the manufacture-of the switch with reliance on coil springs to effect contact engagements and detents for the different switch positions.

Another object of the invention is to'y provide la 4multiple contact member which is fiexible and yieldingly carried'by its actuator with springs behind its contact parts for causing them to independently bear upon the terminal head.

lrVith the above objects in view the invention consists in theV lighting and ignition switches as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanyingvdrawings, in which like characters of reference indi-V cate similar parts in different views,

Fig. l is a' front view of a lighting rand ignition switch constructed in accordance 'with this invention; l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; y

Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof showing the arrangement ofthe terminal head;

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing a slightly modified arrangementof the terminal head; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view thereof;

' Fig. 6 isa similar view showing the ignition switch driverin elevation;

Fig. 7 is a rear View of the rswitch with the terminal head removed;

Fig. 8 isa similar view with Athe switch members also removed and the lighting switch driving ring broken away; .Y Fig. 9 isa rear view of the switch-case; FiglO is a longitudinal sectional view ot' the switchV showing a modification thereof; Y Fig. 1l is a transverse sectional view thereof;

Fig. l2 isa detail view of the spring ring for the switch handle; f

Fig. 18 is a detail View of the spring -washer for the switch handle;

Fig. Mis a detail View of the mounting ear of the yswitch shown in Figs. l0 and 1-1;

Fig. vl5 is al face view of the terminal head,'andf Y- Y Fig. 16 isla detail of the connection between the handle 4anddriver ring.

In these drawings, 20 indicates a sheet metal shell forming a shallow cylindrical switch-case with its end depressed and slotted to form a bearing for the switch `members and toaccommodate driving connection for'them and centrally embossed or raised to provide a key guide bearing, as will be laterdescribed.- The open endof the switch-case receives a diskof-insulating material forming alterminalv head 2lfwliich may be detachably secured in place by means of pins 22 projecting from its 'edge and fitting in bayonet slots in the-edge of the switch-case7 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5,

or by having ears 23 on theI edge ofv the switch-case extending through notches 24' in its edge and bent over on the rear of the terminal head, as shown infFigs. 10;V 1.1 and A face plate25fis secured to the `'front of the switch-case as by having itsy edges. turned down into bearing therewith and provided with tongues 26 passing-'through suitable openings Vin the switch-case and clinched therebeneath.` A Y A handle member 27, preferably of-sheet metal7 `passes through an opening ofthe front plate 25 and has shouldered-lugs 28 passing through slots 29- in thedepressed end of the switch-case and engaging notches in the inner edge of 4a metal driving ring 30 which bears against the underrsurface of the end of the switch-case. The driver ring 30 hasv downwardly extending driving lugs 31 engaging notches "32 in opposite edges of a contact ring 33 of insulating material- Vcarrying spring-pressed contacts 34 bearing onthe terminal head 2l. A

The contacts 34`consist of ball-shaped projections formed in a split-ring-like flexible metal contact member 35 which is loosely fulcrumed and slidablev upon pins 36 carried by the contact ring 33.V There are four of these contacts 34, as shown, bea-ring Awith yspring pressure against the terminal head and in different positions ofthe handle enT gaging in the depressions of the several contact studs 37 thereof to establish electrical connectionvbetween them or in the detent recesses 38 formed in the face of the terminal head. rlhe contact member 35 is preferably bent above its normal plane where it fulc-r-ums on-the pins 36 and is desirably reduced -inf'width as at 39 between the two interme diate contacts to give greater flexibility.

Each of the contacts 34 is spring-pressed toward the terminal head by mhaving va coiled spring 40 seated in the cavity above it -and in a recess or countersunk seatin the bottom of the Contact ring 33, asV best lseen in Fig. 2.

.The ends of the Vpins 36 are preferably headedvto prevent the removal of the contact member from the Contact ring whent-he-parts are unassembled and, to prevent contact of their upper heads 'with the driver ring 30, a ring 4l of thin insulating materialis held .between rings 30 and 33 by the driving lugs Within' the handle is a key guide 42 -with its reduced ends mounted to turn in the Y handle and in the dome-shaped raised ,por-

tion of the switch-case end. v

A dished driver disk 43has a central opening into which athe reduced lower end of the key guide 42 ts and at its edge there lis an upturned stop'lug 44 traveling` in an arcuate slot 45 of the end of the switch-case, while downwardly turned driving lugs 46 engage notches in the edge of a ontact disk 47 of insulating material which lies approximately Iin the plane of the contact ,ring 33. v

A contact member 48 is loosely fulcrumed and slidablymounted on apair of pins 49 on the contact disk 47 corresponding with the pins. 36 and is provided with a ,pair of contactsr() in a line at right angles to the l line joining the pins and corresponding with the-contacts 34 with coiledsprings 5l behind them corresponding with the springs 40 and adapted to engage with Contact studs 52 in the terminal head. l Y A spring washer 53 is confined `between the shoulder of key guide 42 and the handle member 27 `to take up play between said key guide and its bearings and to hold it from turning. j

A key 54 entered through the central slot of the key guide engages its end in a U- sha-ped sheet metal pocket 55, which is let into a slot in the center of lthe contact disk With the end wall of the switch-case when. the key is fully inserted. When the key is first inserted and bears in the pocket 55 the notches are not in register withthe end of the switch-case and the key cannot be turned, making'it necessary to press the -key all the wayin andfin so doing, slightly depress the contact disk 47 VVEagainst the action 4of its springs. However, when the springs are so compressed"andthe key is turned, the shoulders of V`the key formed by said notches are held with the pressure yof the springs vbe accomplished whether the key `is `present or not, causes a corresponding turning of the driver ring30 by reason of the engagement of its lugs 28 therewith and the ring, by the engagement of :its lugs 31 With I'the 'contact ring 33, causes it to turn and cha/nge the connections made by the contacts with the contact studs37 to control the light-ing cirg5.-

cuit of the automobileand effectthe various usual changes thereof. rlhe driver' ring` ,30

forms a metal to metal bearing with the `end l of the switch-case to Vtake thewear and th'e thrust ofthe springs 40.

VVThe 'operatin'gparts are all .held in'p-lace i with spring pressure, avoiding 'any rattlevor unintended change in position. The "construction and arrangement of the contact members is such that each contact is forcibly and independently `held in bearing with Vthe terminal head to secureva firm Contact envgagement with 'the -terminal studs to make eflicient electrical connection :therewith and said contacts `of each contactmember,being pressed out of the same piece of metal, are,Y

of course, .in ,ideal electrica-l communication with one another.y

The mountingof the contact member 35 permits it to yield bodily and also to warp and bend' and Ato fulc-rum on the driving pins 36 toadapt itself tothe irregular travel'of its contacts 34 on the surface of the terminal head so that all ofthe contacts maybe held infirm bearing. engagement with the terminal headat all times. The V.flexible contact member 35 loosely pivotally mountedion the drivingpins36, and urged by coiled springs behind the contracts, is positively driven by the turning of the handle, randjassures an eiiicie'nt electrical connection with thereontact studs.

On the rear ofthe terminal headthe contact studs may be connected as desired, some of such connections being shownxm Figs. 3

. and 4.

In Figs. l0 and ll a modification of the invention is shown, wherein the handle member 27, instead of driving the contact ring 33 vby means of the driver ring, has a direct connection for this purpose consisting-'of lugs 57 engaging in notches on the inner surface ot' the contact ring-33.` Instead of the handle member having clinched shoulderedflug's 28, it has anoutwardly bent ange 58 engaging beneath a spring ring 59 shown in detail in 'Fig'. l2, which is clamped between the faceplate v25 and the switch-case. The inner `edges of the spring ring 59 are split, as shown in Fig. 4l2, to enable it to bear with spring action upon the liange of the handle member to hold the parts against loose movement. In this construction also, instead of forming attaching lugs or screw-ears 60 by cutting them from the switch-case and then doubling them upon themselves and screwthreading them, as shown in Figs. l and 2, such ears 6l are formed by extensions on the edge of the face-plate 25.

lVhat I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a switch, a switch-case having a closed end, a handle member mounted to turn on the end of the switch-case, a key guide positioned between the handle and the end of the switch-case and mounted to turn therein, a contact member mounted to turn on the end of the key guide, and a key iitting in a slot ot' the key guide and engaging the contact member for turning it.

2. In a switch, a switch-case having a closed end, a handle member mounted to turn on the end of the switch-case, a key guide between the handle member and the end ot' the switch-case mounted to turnl therein, a driver mounted to turn on the key guide, a key iitting in a slot of the key guide and engaging the driver for turning it, and a contact disk carried by the driver.

3. In a switch, a switch-case having a closed end, a handle member mounted to turn onthe end oi' the switch-case, a key guide between the handle member and the endV of the switch-case and mounted to turn therein, a driver mounted to turn on the end of the key guide, a lug on the driver entering a slot in the end of the switch-case to limit the movements of the driver, a key fitting in a slot of the key guide and engaging'the driver for turning it, and a switch member carried by the driver. v

In a switch, a switch-case having a closed end, a handle member mounted to turn on the end of the switch-case, a key guide between the handle member and the end of the switch-case and mounted to turn therein, a spring-pressed switch member, a key litting in a slot of the key guide and a slot in the end ofthe switch-case andy engaging with the switch member before it is fully inserted, there being notches vinthe key. to .engage the end of the switch-case iwhen the key is turned while fully inserted switch member to depress it against itsV spring pressure and having' a shoulder to engage the end wallet the switch-case when thekey Ais turned.

6. vIn a switch, a switch-case having a closed end,a key'mountedto turnf thereon, a key guide mounted to turn between the handle member and the end ofthe switchcase, a driver mounted to turn on the key guide, a spring-pressed switch member carried by the driver', and a key fitting in a slot of the key guide and in a slot in the driver and engaging the switch member for depressing it against its spring action, there being a shoulder on the key for engaging the end wall of the switch-case when the key is turned while the switch member is depressed.

7. In a switch, a switch-case having a closed end, a handle member mounted to turn thereon, a key guide mounted to rotate between the handle member and the switchcase end, a driver mounted to rotate on the key guide, a spring-pressed switch member carried by the driver, a flanged U-shaped metal pocket fitting in anv opening of the switch member, and a key .fitting in a slot of the key Vguide and in a slot of the switch case end and in a slot of the driver and seated in the pocket for depressing the switch member against its spring action and having a shoulder for engaging the end oi the switch-case when the key is turned while the switch member is depressed.

8. In a switch, a switch-case having a slotted closed end, a switch handle mounted to turn on the end of the switch-case and having shouldered lugs extending throughthe slots, a sheet metal driver ring having notches `in .its inner edge into which the shouldered lugs areclinched, driving lugs at the outer edges of the driver ring, and an insulation contact ring engaged by said 9. In a switch, a switch-case having a closed Vend provided with slots, a switch handle mounted to turn on the switch-case end and provided with lugs passing through sov ' the slots, a sheet metal driver ring within the switch-case bearing on the switch-case lend and having said lugs clinched thereto, driving lugs on the driver ring', anda springpressed Contact ring lof insulating fmaterial bearing on the driver lring and engaged by said driving lugs. V

10. In a switch, a switch member mounted to turn, a pair of pivot pins fixed thereon, a sheet metal Contact 'member` in the form of a split ring loosely pivoted on the pivot pins, contacts formed on theV Contact member, springs behind the contacts bearing on the switch member, and a terminal head on which the contacts bear and having Contact studs engaged thereby, said Contact member being 'flexible to permit each contact to independently follow irregularities in the surface ofthe terminal head.

11. In a switch, a1contact ring mounted to turn, pivot pins carried thereby, .a split ring Contact member offfiexible sheet metalloosely pivoted on the pivot pinsandhavirng pressed out there-from rounded y'projections oirmi-ng contacts, coiled springs seated `in Seach fof the contacts and in the contact ring, .and -a `,terminal lhead Iagainst which the contacts bear Kprovided with recessed contact 4studs engaged by the contacts.

,12. 'fIn .a switch, a switch-case yhaving la closed end, v.and attaching Yeairs 4formed fby strips of `metal cut 'from the switch-case fnear ,the `closed end and folded-on `:themselves .and

projecting 4from the switch-case in the plane of the closed end and :provided with screw- `threads.

13. In a switch, a switch imember, vheaded :pivot pins thereon, :a 'sheet metal Contact member loosely and pivotally fmounted on the 'pivot' pins, a pair of contacts formed-on the `Contact @member iu .a flin'e .at irighjt langles rto the Contact `pins, kand springs confined between the contacts and the switch lmember.

Ifnftestilmony whereof, l Lafiix .any signature.

EDWARD uiaiiooi, 

